Efio-Ita Nyok|4 March 2018
Primary school pupils in Cross River state, Nigeria, recently expressed their commendations and gratefulness concerning the Federal Government sponsored Home Grown School Feeding Programme (HGSFP) NegroidHaven can report authoritatively.
This incident occurred during the marking of the United Nations recognised day, namely, 3rd Anniversary of African Day of School Feeding themed : 'Enabling Governance to Advance Children and Youthful Potential through Promoting Sustainable School Feeding Programme', which held at PCN Primary School, Akim Qua Town, Calabar Municipality.
The grateful pupils were represented by one Master Emmanuel Monjok a pupil of Holy Child Convent Primary School, Efut Abua, Calabar who while eulogising the Programme said that the FG assisted HGSFP improves the health of recipient pupils as well as assist the poor to benefit from the government.
According to him, 'The Federal Government sponsored Home Grown School Feeding Programme help the poor to benefit from government activities. So, that they can have strength and be healthy. I thank the state government and the federal government'.
Mrs Ann Abue, a vendor with the Programme said that, 'The aim of this Programme is being achieved, I also want to thank the SA for well coordination, for us Vendors, we give the children good nutritional food, number of children increased, in my class the head-teacher said 20 new pupils enrolled'.
Mrs Esther Eyo Edem the Head Teacher of PCN, Akim appreciated the organisers of the Programme in Cross River. Saying, 'I want to appreciate the FG for the Home Grown School Feeding Programme : most of the children who come to school hungry are now sure of eating bread and chicken, I pray that it continues'.
Primary objectives of the Programme is to reduce the 15 million out-of-school Nigerian children to zero, increase nutritional nourish of school children between 1 to 3 of age, to increase school enrollment and increase agricultural value chain thereby improving the economies of the local community.
While addressing the audience, Mr Okulaja, the Cross River state Help Desk officer in charge said the figures of the school children affected and the vendors engaged has increased to 168,069 pupils and 1963 vendors for this second term from last year's first term figures of 117,775 kids and 1358 vendors as at December 2017. He further noted that the Programme commenced officially in the state on September 2017 sequel to its enrollment on September of the same year.
The occasion featured A Star is Born : a talent hunt initiative embracing dance competition, recitation, presentation of awards, and others. Ms Stella Andem Ita of Army Children School Akim Barracks worn as star dancer after thrilling the crowd with her impressive dance steps .
Participating schools were Army Children School Akim Barack, PCN Primary School Ishie Town, AME Zion School Diamond Hill, Henshaw Town Primary School, etc.
Present at the occasion were the local government areas's Supervisory Secretaries of Education for Odukpani, Calabar South, and Calabar Municipality as well as parents, pupils from the participating schools, teachers and the general public.
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is the Blogger-in-Chief, Editor-in-Chief & Publisher of NegroidHaven
